208 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



my head. Far away above me a miniature 

 landslip had taken place, and for a moment it 

 rained boulders all round me. 



I fairly lost my head and thought it was 

 all over with me, for if one of the stones had 

 touched me I should next moment have been 

 racing the boulders in frantic leaps to the 

 river below. For a single breathing space I 

 stood with my head tucked in and my muscles 

 knit, in, I presume, the vain hope that if hit, 

 I might be able to keep my place. Then I 

 turned and bolted, first one leg slipping oif 

 the path — then the other ; but thanks to the 

 pace and to the Providence that had kept the 

 stones from hitting me, managed to reach the 

 other side of the bare patch in safety. 



When, I got to the other side and saw the 

 showers of stones still racing down in great 

 leaps to the river I could not understand 

 how I had escaped, and sincerely felt for poor 

 Platon, who, with hat off, was saying un- 



